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Topics: Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo, MLS, Inter Miami
Josh Lawless
Topics: Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo, MLS, Inter Miami
Lionel Messi will have to get used to a major schedule change in the Saudi Pro League if he was to join Cristiano Ronaldo with one final career move.
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi rolled back the years with a stunning solo goal for Inter Miami as they ran out 4-1 winners over Montreal Impact on Sunday.
The Barcelona legend has scored 52 goals since moving to the MLS in 2023, with his contract due to expire in December 2025.
Negotiations to extend have been taking place between both parties but fresh reports claim that Messi could make one last major move and follow Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia.
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L'Equipe say that Al Ahli, the AFC Champions League holders, are working to try and convince Messi to sign for them.
Al Ahli, controlled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, have made a slew of big signings in recent times - snapping up Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Franck Kessie, Edouard Mendy and Ivan Toney.
Ronaldo, who was the first major player to move to the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr in December 2022, has signed on for another two years as he bids to finally lift a major trophy in the Middle East.
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The 40-year-old has said he "belongs to Saudi Arabia" and will continue promoting the country outside of his football contract, despite having some issues adapting at first.
In 2023, Ronaldo, who is adamant the league is among the best in the world, told the Saudi Pro League's official YouTube channel about a situation he found difficult.
“One example is that in Europe we train more in the morning, but here we train in the afternoon or evening and in Ramadan we train at 10 at night," he explained.
"So, this is strange, but as I tell you these situations are part of an experience, memories.
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“I like to live these moments because you learn with these things. It is difficult, but it is nothing I have not seen before. My experience so far is that Saudi fans really love football and like to live the life and it is good and I am so happy now.”
Prior to signing for Inter Miami, Messi reportedly had an offer worth a staggering £1.3 billion from Al-Hilal but turned it down in favour of moving to the United States.
Messi, who is a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia and is said to earn £18.4 million for promoting the country, admitted that he was tempted to make the move.
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“It is also true that later I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league, where I know the country, and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future," he said in an in-depth interview with TIME.
“As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition.”
Al Hilal went on to sign Messi's former teammate and close friend Neymar Jr, though he played just seven times in an injury-hit stint.
Messi is back in action for Inter on Thursday when they take on New England Patriots in the MLS. Javier Mascherano's men are sixth in the Eastern Conference League but have four games in end on a number of their opponents.